Bitter in Japanese: nigai, explained with its major conjugations

How to say “bitter” in Japanese

Native speakers would say “nigai”. It is the Japanese word for ‘bitter’. Very simple, I think. In this blog post, however, I will explain this word and its major conjugations. And also, I will explain how to use them through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners to use “nigai” properly. Then, let’s get started!

Contents

• Definition and meaning of “nigai”
  • Example #1: how to say “bitter” in Japanese
• Nai form of “nigai”
  • Example #2: how to say “not bitter” in Japanese
• Ta form of “nigai”
  • Example #3: how to say “was bitter” in Japanese
• Te form of “nigai”
  • Example #4: how to say “bitter and” in Japanese
• Ba form of “nigai”
  • Example #5: how to use “if bitter” in Japanese
• Summary

Definition and meaning of “nigai”

Let me start with the definition and meaning of “nigai”.

• nigai – 苦い (にがい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘bitter’ in Japanese.

Japanese people use this i-adjective to express a bitter taste. In addition, they sometimes use it as a metaphor to express a bitter feeling about something. So, it can work in a quite similar way that the English adjective, “bitter”, does.

Then, let me explain how to use it through the example sentence below.

Example #1: how to say “bitter” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• omoide – 思い出 (おもいで) : a noun meaning ‘memory’ in Japanese. This can also work as a plural noun. Learn more about Japanese plural.
• ga – が : a case particle used to make the subject word or the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “omoide” to make the subject word in the sentence.
• aru – ある : a verb meaning ‘to exist’ or just ‘to be’ in Japanese. Native speakers use this to express the existence of an inanimate thing. In the example, this is used to express the existence of “omoide”.

This is a typical usage of “nigai”. In this example, it works as a modifier before “omoide”. Like other adjectives, however, this can also work as a complement in a sentence. Actually, we can say “omoide ga nigai” to mean ‘a memory is bitter’ in Japanese. So, it can work in a very similar way that the English adjective, “bitter”, does. Anyway, when we want to say “bitter” in Japanese, “nigai” is the best option.

In the rest part of this blog post, I will explain major conjugations of “nigai”. The first one is “nigakunai”.

Nai form of “nigai”

Below are the definition and meaning of “nigakunai”.

• nigakunai – 苦くない (にがくない) : the nai form of “nigai”, meaning ‘not bitter’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “nigakunai” consists of the following two parts:

• nigaku – 苦く (にがく) : one conjugation of “nigai”. This can have a smooth connection with “nai”.
• nai – ない : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to deny its meaning. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this auxiliary verb is similar to that of “not”.

From these two components, we can understand that “nigakunai” is literally the nai form of “nigai” and means ‘not bitter’ in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use it through the example sentence below.

Example #2: how to say “not bitter” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kono – この : a determiner used before a noun referring to a thing close to the speaker. In the example, this is used before “ocha” to say “this tea” in Japanese.
• ocha – お茶 (おちゃ) : a noun meaning ‘tea’ in Japanese. Normally it refers to green tea.
• wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this is used after “kono ocha” to make the subject in the sentence.

This is a typical usage of “nigakunai”. When we want to say “not bitter” in Japanese, this nai form would be the best choice.

Ta form of “nigai”

Below are the definition and meaning of “nigakatta”.

• nigakatta – 苦かった (にがかった) : the ta form of “nigai”, meaning ‘was bitter’ or ‘were bitter’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “nigakatta” consists of the following two parts:

• nigakat – 苦かっ (にがかっ) : one conjugation of “nigai”. This can have a smooth connection with “ta”.
• ta – た : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its ta form.

From these two components, we can understand that “nigakatta” is literally the ta form of “nigai”. In Japanese, ta forms of words can work as their past tense forms. So, we can say “nigakatta” to mean ‘was bitter’ or ‘were bitter’ in Japanese. Let me explain its usage through the example sentence below.

Example #3: how to say “was bitter” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kare – 彼 (かれ) : a pronoun meaning ‘he’ in Japanese.
• dashi – 出し (だし) : one conjugation of the verb, “dasu”, which means ‘to serve’ or such in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with its following word.

This is a typical usage of “nigakatta”. When we want to say “was bitter” in Japanese, this ta form would be the best choice.

Te form of “nigai”

Below are the definition and meaning of “nigakute”.

• nigakute – 苦くて (にがくて) : the te form of “nigai”, meaning ‘bitter’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “nigakute” consists of the following two parts:

• nigaku – 苦く (にがく) : one conjugation of “nigai”. This can have a smooth connection with “te”.
• te – て : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its te form.

From these two components, we can understand that “nigakute” is literally the te form of “nigai”. In Japanese, te forms of words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. Actually, “nigakute” is very useful when we want to use “nigai” before another adjective or a verb with a smooth connection. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #4: how to say “bitter and” in Japanese

Below is the new word used in the example.

• koi – 濃い (こい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘thick’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “nigakute”. In the example, it has the smooth connection with “koi”. When we want to use “nigai” before another adjective with a smooth connection, its te form is very useful.

Ba form of “nigai”

Below are the definition and meaning of “nigakereba”.

• nigakereba – 苦ければ (にがければ) : the ba form of “nigai”, working to make a conditional clause in a sentence with the meaning of ‘bitter’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “nigakereba” consists of the following two parts:

• nigakere – 苦けれ (にがけれ) : one conjugation of “nigai”. This can have a smooth connection with “ba”.
• ba – ば : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its ba form.

From these two components, we can understand that “nigakereba” is literally the ba form of “nigai”. In Japanese, ba forms of words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “nigakereba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with the meaning of ‘bitter’ in Japanese. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #5: how to use “if bitter” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• oshie – 教え (おしえ) : one conjugation of the verb, “oshieru”, which means ‘to tell’, ‘to inform’, ‘to teach’, or such in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with its following word.
• te – て : the same as used in “nigakute”. In this example, this is used after “oshie” to make its te form, “oshie te”. Verbs need to be changed to their te forms to be connected with “kudasai”.
• kudasai – 下さい (ください) : the command form of the verb, “kudasaru”, which means ‘to give’ in Japanese. When this follows a te-formed verb, however, it can work as an auxiliary verb to add the meaning of ‘please’ to the preceding verb. In the example, this works as an auxiliary verb.

This is a typical usage of “nigakereba”. In the example, it works as a part of the conditional clause, “ocha ga nigakereba”, which means ‘if the tea is bitter’ in Japanese. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with the meaning of ‘bitter’ in Japanese, this ba form is useful.

Summary

In this blog post, I’ve explained the i-adjective, “nigai”, and its major conjugations. And also, I’ve explained how to use them through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.

• nigai – 苦い (にがい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘bitter’ in Japanese. This can work as both a modifier and a complement.
• nigakunai – 苦くない (にがくない) : the nai form of “nigai”, meaning ‘not bitter’ in Japanese.
• nigakatta – 苦かった (にがかった) : the ta form of “nigai”, meaning ‘was bitter’ or ‘were bitter’ in Japanese. This is the past tense form of “nigai”.
• nigakute – 苦くて (にがくて) : the te form of “nigai”, meaning ‘bitter’ in Japanese. When we want to use “nigai” before another adjective or a verb with a smooth connection, this te form is useful.
• nigakereba – 苦ければ (にがければ) : the ba form of “nigai”, working to make a conditional clause in a sentence with the meaning of ‘bitter’ in Japanese.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.